Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Animal groups unite on World Day for Animals in Laboratories to stop the construction of an animal testing laboratory in Malaysia

Photo – BUAV – http://www.buav.org/home

Posted by: “Sarah Kite”  sarah.kite@buav.org
Fri Apr 23, 2010 12:56 am (PDT)

News Release
For immediate release
23rd April 2010

http://www.buav.org/a/2010/04/23/320

Animal groups unite on World Day for Animals in Laboratories to stop the construction of an animal testing laboratory in Malaysia.

To mark World Day for Animals in Laboratories (April 24th), a coalition of animal protection groups has launched an international effort to stop the construction of an animal laboratory at the Masjid Tanah Industrial Park in Malacca, Malaysia. The proposal, which has only recently come to light, is a result of collaboration between the Indian contract testing company, Vivo Bio Tech, and the State government-owned Melaka Biotech.

The coalition, which includes the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Selangor, the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) and the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments (ECEAE), which represents animal protection organisations from 17 countries, has written to the Government urging it not to allow this facility to go ahead on humanitarian grounds. Also to be considered is the impact that allowing such a facility will have upon Malaysia’s international image in the world. A meeting to discuss the coalition’s objections in full has been requested.

Disturbingly, Malaysia currently has no legislation governing the use of animals in research. According to the company’s website (www.vivobio.com), Vivo Biotech carries out extensive animal research, including toxicity testing on a variety of species for a number of purposes, including the controversial use for cosmetic products. It has also been reported that primates could be sourced locally in Malaysia. The government of Malaysia made an important stand by re-instating the ban on the export of primates for research in 2008. Should the animal laboratory be allowed to be set up in Malacca, immense suffering, misery and death will be inflicted on thousands of animals, and potentially facilitate the trade in wild-caught macaques within Malaysia.

The coalition opposes the construction of this facility for both ethical reasons and the lack of scientific validity of using animals in testing. It argues that there is a large range of non-animal techniques that, as well as being a more humane approach to science can also be cheaper, quicker and more effective. These include cell, tissue and organ culture; micro-organisms such as bacteria; molecular research; studies with post-mortem tissues; computer simulations, population studies (epidemiology) and ethical clinical research with human volunteers.

Coalition spokesperson, Christine Chin, SPCA stated:  “We are calling on animal groups and others around the world to join us in urging the Government of Malaysia to dissociate itself from a proposal that will not only involve the suffering and death of thousands of animals every year, but also will undoubtedly have a negative and detrimental impact on Malaysia’s image overseas.”

ENDS

For further information, please contact Jacinta Johnson, SPCA Selangor at jacinta.spca@gmail.com or Telephone +60 3 4256 5312/ 3 4253 5179
or Sarah Kite at sarah.kite@buav.org or Telephone +44 207 700 4888 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              +44 207 700 4888      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              +44 207 700 4888      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
www.spca.org.my
www.buav.org
http://www.eceae.org/
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Action Alert
Please support the international campaign to stop the development of an animal testing laboratory in Malaysia

We are writing to request that you join with us in opposing the development of an animal testing facility at the Masjid Tanah Industrial Park in Malacca, Malaysia. The BUAV has joined with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Selangor and the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments (ECEAE) to campaign on this issue and we need your help!

The laboratory, which plans to house nonhuman primates, dogs and small animals, will be the result of a RM450 million deal between the Indian contract testing company, Vivo BioTech, Vanguard Creative Technologies, and the Malaysian government-owned company, Melaka Biotech.

Malaysia currently has no legislation governing the use of animals in research. According to the company’s website (www.vivobio.com), Vivo Biotech carries out extensive animal research, including toxicity testing on a variety of species for a number of purposes, including the controversial use for cosmetic products. It has also been reported that primates could be sourced locally in Malaysia. The government of Malaysia made an important stand by re-instating the ban on the export of primates for research in 2008. Should the animal laboratory be allowed to be set up in Malacca, immense suffering, misery and death will be inflicted on thousands of animals, and potentially facilitate the trade in wild-caught macaques within Malaysia.

The coalition opposes the construction of this facility for both ethical reasons and the lack of scientific validity of using animals in testing. It argues that there is a large range of non-animal techniques that, as well as being a more humane approach to science can also be cheaper, quicker and more effective.

There is still time to take action. We understand that as yet, no notice or applications of permits have been made to the Peninsular Malaysia Department of Wildlife and National Parks, or the Department of Veterinary Services.

Further information and a link to a recent article in the Malay Mail, a leading Malaysian newspaper, can be viewed here:
http://www.buav.org/a/2010/04/02/309

Please support the campaign and urge the Prime Minister of Malaysia and the Chief Minister of Malacca to put an end to the negotiations between the Indian biotechnology company and the State government-owned Melaka Biotech. Request that they do not embark on the controversial business of animal research and remind them of the negative impact that the proposed laboratories will have on Malaysia’s international image.

Prime Minister of Malaysia
Datuk Seri Najib Razak
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister
Main Block, Perdana Putra Building
Federal Government Administrative Centre
62502 Putrajaya
Malaysia
Email: ppm@pmo.gov.my

(cc. the Prime Ministers Secretary at aziz@pmo.gov.my)Chief Minister of Malacca
Datuk Seri Hj. Mohd Ali bin Mohd Rustam
Office of the Chief Minister
The Seri Negari
The State Administrative and Development Centre
Malacca 
Malaysia
Email: alirustam@melaka.gov.my

You can also request that the government authorities in Malaysia not issue any permits for the facility.

Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry
Datuk Seri Noh bin Omar
Wisma Tani, No 28, Persiaran Perdana, Precint 4
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan
62624 Putrajaya
Wilayah Persekutuan
Malaysia
Email: nohomar@moa.gov.my

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
Dato Sri Douglas Uggah Embas
Level 1 – 4, Podium 2 & 3, Wisma Sumber Asli
No.25, Persiaran Perdana, Precint 4
Federal Government Administrative Centre
62574 Putrajaya
Malaysia
Email: uggah@nre.gov.my

Department of Veterinary Services
Dato’ Dr. Abd. Aziz b. Jamaluddin
The Director-General of Veterinary Services
Wisma Tani
Block Podium Lot 4G1
Presint 4
Federal Government Administrative Centre
62630 Putrajaya
Malaysia
Email: azizj@dvs.gov.my

Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan)
Dato’ Abd. Rashid bin Samsudin
Director-General
Headquarters of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks
Km 10, Jalan Cheras
56100 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Email: rashid@wildlife.gov.my

(cc. to Personal Assistant at pakp@wildlife.gov.my)

BLOCK LISTING FOR ABOVE:

ppm@pmo.gov.my,  aziz@pmo.gov.my,  alirustam@melaka.gov.my,  nohomar@moa.gov.my,  uggah@nre.gov.my,  azizj@dvs.gov.my,  rashid@wildlife.gov.my,  pakp@wildlife.gov.my

You can also write to the Embassy of Malaysia in your own country.

For the contact details of Malaysian Embassies around the world go to:
http://www.embassiesabroad.com/embassies-of/Malaysia

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WORLD DAY FOR LABORATORY ANIMALS

Please see attached image “Hinsa vs Ahinsa” after reading the message below.

Please forward this email to friends. Thank you.

24th April, 2010 is World Day for Laboratory Animals

All of us have our own particular favourites when it comes to choosing cosmetics or toiletries. High powered advertising and the glittering facades of gigantic shopping malls, make the prospect of shopping for these items quite exciting and desirable.

But how do these products reach these shelves in the first place? The journey is not easy, especially for all the animals involved in the process. Most cosmetics, toiletries and household products, are tested on animals first, before being cleared and ready for human consumption. 

Small cages, cold metallic table surfaces, lethal looking instruments, contraptions to confine an animal completely for purposes of testing and experimentation; this is what a lab animal faces every day and night of it’s terrifying existence in this unnatural setting.  Millions of animals are subjected to horrifying cruelty so that we humans can cream our faces, shampoo our hair and even clean our floors as safely as possible. Each product has been tested on animals first.

After undergoing painful experimentation for most of their lives, many are then euthanized so that Scientists can study the effects of a product on their internal organs. This is what an animal, chosen for the lab, faces every day of it’s life; terrible suffering followed by a wretched death.

How can we, as people who really care for the welfare of animals, deal with this type of situation and also avoid being a party to such cruelty? There are ways :

Firstly, as customers, we can refuse to buy any product that has been tested on animals.

Many large cosmetic companies have now abandoned animal testing. This is indicated on the packaging of the product you buy, so read everything carefully before making your purchase. You can also ask sales people or the Manager of the store to help you, though, most of them may not be even aware that products are tested on animals. You can help educate them.

If you are really fond of a particular product and the packaging tells you nothing, locate the contact number or email address of the manufacturer on the same packaging and contact the concerned person directly. Ask if the product has been tested on animals as you do not wish to purchase any item that involves cruelty to an innocent animal. This helps a great deal, as customers are all important, and you are a customer. 

If you are in doubt about the safety aspect of products, related to testing on animals, log on to the National Anti-Vivisection Society site and read about the safe alternatives to animal testing. 

To make a compassionate and informed choice, you can go to the PETA India lab animals’ site and find out exactly which company tests on animals and which does not.  There are approximately 800 which do not resort to animal testing now.

On this one day of the year, when we pause and reflect on the terrible plight of these animals, make a silent pledge to yourself to avoid using any product that involves this type of cruelty.  And on behalf of all the animals you will save in this way, we thank you.

Team IDA (In Defense of Animals)

© 2009-2010 IDA INDIA. http://www.idaindia.org

If you wish to learn about the horrific atrocities of vivisection, you could view the following videos:

http://vivisection-absurd.org.uk/videos.html 

http://www.animalliberationfront.com/Philosophy/Animal%20Testing/AntiVivisVideo.htm 

***  Warning: Most of the images are very distressing and shocking ***.

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, GLOBAL PETITIONS - Anything Animal, Anywhere !, LETTERS, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), VIDEOS |